Amusement device



Dec. 3, 1929. L. CAPPABIANCO AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed 001:. 24. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 11h ll I 1 I HHHIHE Hill Dec. 3, 1929. L. CAPPABIANCO 1,733,355

AMUSEMENT DEVICE- Filed 00%.. 2'4, 192a 2 Sheetsi-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 @TATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Application. filed October 24, 1928. Serial No. 314,624.

This invention relates to an amusement apparatus, and has for an object to provide an improved construction of this type of apparatus which will provide the enjoyment a and thrills desired, but at the same time will be of a construction which is safe and is not liable to permit injury to the occupant or occupants of the car. It is the type of device in which there is a rotary or movable 10 platform on which there are several cars movable in all directions and may bump each other or the enclosing side walls without injury.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved construction of car with an improved spring protection.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will bemore fully disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

1 is a vertical section through the platform construction and showing a bump car in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bump car.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section thereof substantially on line 1-4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of one of the protective springs on the platform.

Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the means for mounting these springs.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of one ofthe bumper ring-links looking toward the inside thereof.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are side and end elevations respectively of one of the slidable supports for the bumper ring.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the platform comprises a suitable stand including upright supports 10 carrying radial supporting members 11. Mounted on these supports is a pair of discs 12 and 13 with a thrust bearing bracket 14: carried by the disc 12 carrying a roller thrust bearing 15 for the gear 16 se curedto the bottom of the base plate 17 of the platform 18. This platform is preferably circular and is somewhat lower in the center a suitable train of gears 22 driven from any suitable source of power as the electric motor 23 having driving connection with the gear train through bevel gears 24. The upright supports 10 extend above the top of the platform 18 as illustrated, and carry a plurality of curved bumper springs 25. These springs are bowed inwardly as shown, and at their opposite ends have elongated slots 26 to receive bolts 27 mounted in the supports 10 and extending substantially radially of the platform. The supports 10 may have sockets 28 to receive one end of the coil springs 29. This spring embraces the bolt 27 and engages at its outer end the spring 25. Therefore, the spring 25 may yield from a blow on the inner side thereof by a sliding action of the slots 26 on the bolts 27 and also by compression of the springs 29.

The bump car is also an improved construction and is shown more in detail in Figs. 3, a and 7 to 10. It comprises a base or body portion 30 preferably circular and is provided with a series of sockets 31 in its periphery to receive one end of coiled bumper springs 32 extending substantially radially of the base and outwardly from the periphery thereof. The outer ends of these springs are supported by a bumper ring of flexible construction. This ring comprises a plurality of links 33, there being preferably one link for each spring, and although these links may be of various constructions that as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is very satisfactory and comparatively easy tomake. It comprises a strip of metal doubled upon itself as shown at 34 and 35, to form pivot loops and the walls are riveted to each other as shown at 36, with the free ends extending radially inward to form a stud 37. Loop 34 at one end is in the shape of a tongue 38 While at theopposite end it is i a fork 39 to receive the tongue 38 of the next adjacent link, and the body of the link is preferably curved so that when the ring is completed it will be substantially circular.

It is supported on the body by means of a plurality of supports which are substantially L-shape having an upright portion provided with an opening 41 and a horizontal portion 42. The horizontal portion 1-2 is mounted for radial sliding movement on the base. In the form shown the base has a plate t3 on the topwall thereof on which these radial portions 42 of the supports,'one for each link 33'and spring 32, are mounted to slide, they being held thereon by a top plate 4 1 resting on the tops of these members 42 'base the links may be connected tegetherin va continuous strip by means of aivot pins 427 in the shape-of rivets or bolts passing through the pivot loops 34 and 35 at the opposite ends of the links. This makes a continuous flexible chain which may be mounted on the supports 42 by inserting the studs 37 through the openings' 4:1 and then inserting a pivot stud i? in theadjacent ends of the two end links,

thus forming a complete ring. If it is desired toremove this ring for inspection or repair it is only necessary to remove one of these pivot pins and the links may be moved outwardly, as indicated in dotted lmes Fig.

3. 'It will, of course, be understood that the free ends ofthe horizontal portions of thesupports-l2 have previously been inserted in position between the plates 43 and M with the springs 32 in their proper sockets, and that as soon as the ring formed by the links 33 is completed the entire bumper ring assembly is properly mounted on the base.

.The base-is mounted for universal rolling -movement on casters of any suitable type.

Thevcasters shown comprise an inverted cup member 48 secured tothe bottom of the base andcarrying balls 49 to run on the platform 18. Toreduce the frictional bearings for thes e balls there'maybe ball bearings 50 therefor in the sockets 48.

A safety'seat forthe passe r or e passengers is mounted on the top of the base. The. seat proper 15 shown at 51 and 1s secured to the top of the base by any suitable means,

- such as the bolts-5. It is enclosed by'an upright sheet metal enclosing wall 52 which is preferably taperedupwardly from the base and carries a curved padded baciir53' for the 7 supported seat 51. Forwardly of this seat is a cover 54 hinge to the enclosing wall at 55, the ail being preferably provided with inwardly extending lugs 56 and an inwardly extending lip 57 on the front wall extends over the edge of the cover 5% when in its horizontal position as shown in Figs. 3 and st, to limit the turning movement of the cover in one direction. At the opposite side of the pivot the cover carries a grip rod 53 extending transversely thereof to be gripped by the passenger or passengers and help each to retain his seat and to prevent his being thrown forwardly against the sides of the chamber in which he is seated. The side walls 52 are nounted on the base by any suitable means, such as the bracket 59.

In operation one or more of these cars are mounted on the plateform 18, it being intended that there should be one car for each person or there may be more than one person to a car, and as the platform 18 is rotated by the motor centrifugal action will cause the cars to be thrown outwardly against the peripheral bumper springs 5, they being located at a height to engage the bumper ring formed by the links 33 on the car. The coaction of the two sets of springs 25 and 29 on the platform structure and the bumper springs 32 on the car suiliciently cushions the car to )revent injury to the occupants, but they will also tend to force the car back toward the center of the platform so that it is given a continuous travel about the device.

If two cars bump the shock will be taken by,

the bumper rings 33 and springs 32 on respective cars. It will be apparent that this bumping action against the flexible ring formed by the links 33 will force the links so engaged radially inward against the ac tion of their springs 32 causing the horizontal portions 4-2 of the supports to slide radially in the base, and as the ring is in effect a flexible ring the shock is very effectively absorbed, and as soon as the pressure is released the ring moves back to its original position under the action of the springs 32. This makes a very effective bumper ring construction which is easily assembled on the car. The lower ends of the upright portions 40 of the bumper ring supports are extended to a short distance above the floor as shown, to prevent overturning of the car, and these lower ends are preferably rounded.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

I 1. In an amusement device, a bump ear comprising a base, roller casters for supporting the base, a plurality of coiled radially extending springs about the periphery of the base, substantially L-shaped supports for the outer ends of the springs having inward OX- tensionsnnounted for radial sliding movement on the base, a peripheral bumper ring outside the springs comprising a plurality of links one for each spring, and pivot means connecting adjacent links.

2. In an amusement device, a bump car comprising a base, roller casters for supporting the base, a plurality of coiled springs extending radially outward from the periphery of the base, supports for the outer ends of the springs including members having upright portions having an opening therein and horizontal portions mounted for radial sliding movement in the base, a bumper ring comprising a plurality of links having studs in said openings, and pivotal connections for adjacent links.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

LUIGI GAPPABIANGO. 

